Measles Outbreak: Your Questions Answered

Over the past few months, measles outbreaks in the United States have reached record-breaking numbers, including cases in Oakland and Wayne counties here in Michigan reported this month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received more than 300 reports of measles since January 1, 2019 — compare that to a total of 372 cases reported in all of 2018.

Why are rates of a
disease that was eradicated nearly 20 years ago skyrocketing now? And how can
you protect your children from contracting the disease? We have the answers.

FAQ: Measles

Measles is highly contagious.
In fact, you don’t need person-to-person contact to catch it. A single
respiratory droplet (the small amounts of liquid produced when we cough,
sneeze, talk or breathe) can cause significant damage. If someone infected with
measles sneezes or coughs, the virus can stick around in the air for up to two
hours. What’s worse, up to 90 percent of unvaccinated individuals will develop
the measles when exposed to the virus.

Q: Why
is there such a sudden increase in measles across the United States?

A: The most concerning reason
behind the spike is falling vaccination rates, particularly in the Pacific
Northwest. Some children are under-vaccinated, meaning they’ve only received
one of the two shots required for protection. Others aren’t vaccinated at all.
At the same time, there has been an increase in the number of people coming
into the United States from countries where vaccination isn’t common.

Q: What is the measles vaccination protocol?

A: To protect against the measles,
children need a series of two measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines, one
between 12 to 15 old and a booster at age 4. If there are concerns that a child
may be exposed to measles, mumps or rubella, the second dose can be given
sooner. Unvaccinated children older than 6 months may receive the MMR ahead of
schedule in the case of outbreak or increased risk of exposure. The child would
then return to the regular schedule.

Q: Who
is most at risk?

A: Babies under 6 months (who are
not eligible for the vaccine), unvaccinated children and kids under 5 years of
age are at highest risk of developing the measles.

Q: What
does measles look like?

A: The incubation phase can last up to 21 days. During that time, children may not experience any symptoms at all. After that, your child might spike a fever, lose his appetite and suffer from fatigue. Those symptoms typically last for two to four days and often come with the coughing, sneezing, conjunctivitis (pink eye) and stuffy head people link with a cold or flu. Then, little white spots (called koplik spots) develop on the mucosa inside the cheek, followed by the telltale measles rash, which shows up within 48 hours of the initial signs of sickness.

Q: How
long is someone who has the measles contagious?

A: Most people think the rash signifies whether or not a person is
contagious. The truth is, people who have the measles can spread the disease
for up to five days before the rash
first appears, and they can continue to spread the virus for four days after
the first sign of a rash. The rash typically resolves within five to six days.

Q: What
should I do if I suspect my child has the measles?

A: If you suspect your child may have the measles, keep him or her away from
other people and call your doctor. While many viruses cause a rash, the current
measles outbreaks make it important to rule out the disease in children with a
rash and fever. It’s always a good idea to call ahead to a doctor’s office,
emergency room or urgent care center before arriving if you suspect measles. It
allows health professionals to prepare to evaluate your child while also
reducing the risk of exposing other people to the virus.

Q:
What treatments are available?

A: There’s no antiviral medication available for the measles. Instead,
doctors focus on treating symptoms, such as cough, runny nose, fever and the
rash. Since vitamin A deficiency can result in delayed recovery and an
increased risk of post-measles complications, the World Health Organization
recommends giving children with measles high-dose vitamin A for two days.

Q: What are some of the complications of the measles?

A: Children who suffer from fever
for more than four or five days may develop serious complications, including
diarrhea, dehydration and pneumonia. In severe cases, children may also develop
encephalitis, where the virus enters the fluid around the brain. This can lead
to long-term complications and a life-threatening infection.

Q: How
can I protect my child?

A: In addition to vaccinating your child with the MMR vaccine on schedule, you can protect your child by taking the same steps you take to sidestep cold and flu: Be aware of your environment, know your risk and steer clear of people who are sick. Doctors can give immune globulin (Ig) within 6 days of exposure to high-risk immune-suppressed individuals, who are not eligible for the MMR vaccine.

Staying Safe

Cases of measles are climbing because vaccination
rates are falling. So even though our national vaccination rate is nearly 92
percent, there are pockets around the country where rates are far below that.
Unfortunately, the people most at risk of contracting measles and the ensuing
complications are those who cannot get the MMR vaccine for medical reasons
(including pregnant women and children who are too young to receive the
vaccine).

The bottom line: Vaccinate
your children with two doses of the MMR vaccine. Deciding not to vaccinate not
only puts your child at risk, it also makes the entire community more
susceptible to the illness. It’s never too late to vaccinate.

To find a doctor or pediatrician at Henry Ford, visit henryford.com or call 1-800-HENRYFORD (436-7936).

A health and wellness blog produced by Henry Ford Health System, and designed to share our knowledge on a variety of topics – from tips on eating healthy, staying fit and reducing stress to advice on chronic disease management and news on medical research and health technology.